Contributions To The Study Of Asplenio Rutae Murariae Melicetum Ciliatae Association In The Vașcău Plateau

ANALELE UNIVERSITĂȚII DIN ORADEA Fascicula Protecția Mediului, 2014

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF ASPLENIO RUTAE-MURARIAE-MELICETUM CILIATAE ASSOCIATION IN THE VAȘCĂU PLATEAU (CODRU-MOMA MOUNTAINS)

Pășcuț Călin Gheorghe*

* University of Oradea, Faculty of Environmental Protection, 26 Gen. Magheru St., 410048 Oradea; Romania, e-mail: [anonimizat]

Abstract

The work presents a phytocoenologic study of Asplenio rutae-murariae-Melicetum ciliatae association Soó 1962 in the Vașcău Plateau in Bihor County. This association was reported in the Rastețului Hill on Vașcău Plateau, where a number of 5 phytocoenological relevées were carried out in 2011.

The phytocoenoses of this association were analyzed considering the floristic composition, life forms, floristic elements, karyotype and ecological indices.

Key words: association, phytocoenoses, floristic elements, life forms, ecological indices, karyotype.

INTRODUCTION

The Carstic Plateau of Vașcău comprises a very wide and unitary chalcophile area in the east of the Codru-Moma Mountains. Geographic coordinates of the plateau are 46°25’50’’ North latitude and 22°26’49’’ East longitude. It has a total area of ​​4983 ha which administratively belongs to Bihor and Arad Counties.

Fig. 1 Vașcău Plateau (Bihor County)

(http://www.infobihor.ro/user_files/images/harta_administrativa.jpg)

Vașcău Plateau lies at an altitude of 600-700 m and includes the most spectacular country karst, due to the impressive number of sinkholes, which aligns most times, constituting sinkholes valleys. Many sinkholes are home to water stove called ,,tăuri’’ formed due to sealing of slopes with descaling clay of a red-violet color (Cocean, Filip, 2008).

The edge of the plateau is made of impermeable rocks that form a higher landform, with the highest peak Momuța (930 m). These Paleozoic rocks have a normal appearance of valleys bounded by rounded ridges.

The hydrography of Vașcău Plateau is characterized by sinkholes, which captures the permanent waters. In the central-southern part three are three short rivers, with water that is lost in contact with dolomite: Ponorașul, Recea and Ponorul, and in the south, the most important one considering rate and length is Țarina River. The lower course of the Țarina River penetrates the Câmpeneasca Cave, where it forms a waterfall. After a underground journey, the water comes out at Boiu Spring, near the town of Vașcău. Near Vașcău Plateau there are two springs to be mentioned: the one in Briheni Valley, at the bottom of a gorge, and the other one Călugări, once famous for double intermittence (Bleahu, 1978).

The climate falls into moderate continental type. Climatic elements show a concentric setting with values ​​ranging from outside to center. Thus the annual average temperature decreases from 10 °C to 8 °C, the average temperature of the air decreases in January from -2° C to -4 °C, and in July, from 20 °C to 18 °C. Precipitation (annual average quantities) increases from 700 mm to 1000 mm. Against the western oceanic air transport Codru-Moma Mountains form a dam which causes the rising of air masses and forming of clouds. These cause numerous torrential rainfall. All these climatic features make summers warm and humid and winters mild.

Rendzine soil are specific to highlands. Soils are affected by erosion caused by grazing. Land and therefore habitat degradation has a major impact on the distribution and conservation of biodiversity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the study of the association phytosociological research methods of the Central European school were used. The relevee technique and the quantitative and qualitative assessments were done according to the instructions provided by Cristea et al, 2004. The quantitative criterion considered in the research of the phytocoenoses was the abundance and dominance of individuals to establish consistency classes (K = IV).

In th field sheet data on the stationary and habitat conditions in which the phytocoenosis develop were recorder, namely: altitude, exposition, slope, covering the vegetation cover (%) as well a species list, place and date of the survey . The size of sample surfaces used was 25 m².

Framing of the association in corresponding cenotaxonomic units alliance, order, class was made in accordance with ecological and floristic systems developed by Sanda et al, 2008. The values ​​shown in the table of associations +, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, which is abundance-dominance of each species, have the following percentage values: + = 0.5%, 1 = 5%, 2 = 17.5% 3 = 37.5%, 4 = 62.5%, 5 = 87.5% (Ivan, Doniță, 1975).

To identify the taxa I used the specialty literature: Illustrated Flora of Romania (Ciocârlan, 2000, 2009) and Vascular plants in Romania (Sarbu et al, 2013). Key terms used to characterize organic plants (life forms, floristic elements, ecological indices) were determined according to the literature produced by Sanda et al, 2003; Cristea et al, 2004. Chromosome number and karyotypes of different species were considered after studying some data provided by Flora Europaea (1964-1980), as well as some reference works (Löve, Löve 1974; Májovsky, Murin, 1987; Pignatti, 1995 a,b; Ciocârlan, 2000).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The association was found in the Vașcău Plateau on the limestone rocks of Rastețului Hill, near the town of Câmp, Bihor County.

In Romania the association is not well known, being cited in Transylvania (Pop et al., 2002) and Crișana (Pop, Hodișan, 1967; Coldea 1973; Groza, 2008). It is cited in Hungary Bakony areas, Vértes, Gerecse and Budai-hg. (Borhidi, 2003).

The largest covering of phytocoenoses is that of Melica ciliata, edifying dominant species that occupies the space between the limestone blocks from ground surface. On calcareous rocks the species characteristic of the Asplenium ruta-muraria association develops, having less coverage.

Association Asplenio rutae-murariae-Melicetum ciliatae Soó 1962, fall in syntaxonomical terms as follows (after Sanda et al, 2008):

Festuco-Brometea Class Br.-Bl. et R. Tüxen in Br.-Bl. 1949

Stipio pulcherrimae-Festucetalia pallentis Order I. Pop 1968

Seslerio-Festucion pallentis Alliance Klika 1931

Fig. 2 The life forms spectrum of Asplenio rutae-murariae-Melicetum ciliatae

association Soó 1962

Fig. 3 Spectrum of floristic elements of the Asplenio rutae-murariae-Melicetum ciliatae

association Soó 1962

Fig. 4 Diagram of ecological indices for the Asplenio rutae-murariae-Melicetum ciliatae

association Soó 1962

Fig. 5 Karyotype spectrum of the Asplenio rutae-murariae-Melicetum ciliatae

association Soó 1962

Life forms spectrum (Figure 2) shows that hemicryptophytes species (54.39%) had the largest share, followed by annual terophytes (15.79%) and camaephytes (10.53%). Of floristic elements (Figure 3), the most are Eurasian species (36.84%), followed by European species (26.32%), Central Europeans (15.79%) and Mediterranean ones (8.77%).

Analyzing the diagram of ecological indices (Figure 4), depending on moisture, most species are xero-mesophytes (68.42%) and xerophytes (19.3%). Compared to the temperature factor, the weight is held by micro-mesothermophylous (61.41%), followed by moderately thermophylous (17.54%). The chemical reaction of the soil indicates the predominance in the association of the phytocoenosis of the weak acid-neutrophylous species (52.63%), followed by amphitolerant species (21.05%) and acid-neutrophylous ones (17.54%).

The karyotype spectrum (Figure 5) reveals a large share of polyploid species (50.88%), followed by diploid species (35.09%) and diplo-polyploid ones (14.03%).

CONCLUSIONS

The chalcophile association grows in the investigated territory on pioneer rocky slopes, preferring sunny or partially sunny expositions on skeletal, sandy soil at altitudes of 450-520 m.

The floristic composition of the association, totalizing 57 species (table 1) is dominated by calcio-phillic elements with low preferences on soil moisture. An important coenotic role is played by xerophytes and xero-mesophytes species specific to the Seslerio-Festucion pallentis alliance, Stipio pulcherrimae-Festucetalia pallentis order and Festuco-Brometea class.

These phytocenosis are important stages in the process of fallowing and covering of barren rocks with vegetation.

These phytocenoses have low economic significance, having in their floristic composition some forage plants: Festuca valesiaca, Sanguisorba minor, Brachypodium pinnatum, Trifolium montanum and medicinal ones: Thymus comosus, Hypericum perforatum, Sedum acre.

Table 1

Asplenio rutae-murariae-Melicetum ciliatae Soó 1962

where: L.f. – life forms; mPh – Mezophanerophytes; nPh – Nanophanerophytes; Ch – Camephytes; H – Hemicryptophytes; G – Geophytes; Th – Annual terophytes; TH – Biannual terophytes; F.e. – floristic elements; Cp-Bo – Circumpolar boreal; Eua-Eurasian; E – European; Ec – Central European; End Carp – Carpathian endemism; M -Mediterranean; P – Pontic; Cosm-Cosmopolitan; Mp – Mediterano-Pontic.

U – humidity, T – temperature, R – the chemical reaction of the soil; K – constancy; 2n – karyotype.

Species that occur in a single relevé: Cerastium holosteoides (4); Dianthus spiculifolius (3); Festuca rubra (3); Galium mollugo (5); Gratiola officinalis (4); Leontodon hispidus (3); Linum catharticum (2); Scleranthus annuus (4); Stachys officinalis (3); Thymus dacicus (4); Trisetum alpestre (4); Verbascum phlomoides (4); Verbascum nigrum (5); Xanthium spinosum (4).

Place and date of mapping: 1 – 5 Rastețului hill (Bihor county) 03.07.2011.

REFERENCES

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Borhidi A., 2003, Magyarország növénytársulásai, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.

Ciocârlan V., 2000, 2009, Flora ilustrată a României. Pteridophyta et Spermatophyta. Editura Ceres București, 1038 p, 1141 p.

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Coldea G., 1973, Pajiștile xero-mezofile din Munții Plopiș, Stud. Cerc. Biol., Ser. Bot., București, 25, 6:487-496.

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*** 1964-1980, Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, I-V.

*** http://www.infobihor.ro/user_files/images/harta_administrativa.jpg.